Speech on the 25th Anniversary of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration of the Sixth-Term Government of the MSAR

Speech on the 25th Anniversary of Macao’s Return to the Motherland and the Inauguration of the Sixth-Term Government of the MSAR

December 20, 2024

My fellow Chinese,
Dear friends,

Today, we are meeting here on this solemn occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland and to inaugurate the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR). Let me begin, on behalf of the central government and people of all ethnic groups across China, by extending cordial greetings to all Macao residents. Warm congratulations to Mr Sam Hou Fai on his inauguration as the sixth-term MSAR chief executive, and to principal officials and members of the Executive Council of the sixth-term MSAR government. I also offer my heartfelt appreciation to all fellow Chinese, both at home and overseas, and to international friends for their long-standing commitment to and support for the cause of One Country, Two Systems and Macao’s prosperity, stability and development.

Macao is a brilliant pearl on the coast of the South China Sea, a treasured part of our great motherland. It was from here that the first group of Chinese students embarked on their journey to study overseas. It was here that many Chinese classics were translated into foreign languages and introduced to the West. Moreover, it was through Macao that many elements of modern Western science, technology and culture made their way onto the Chinese mainland. Across different periods in China’s history, Macao has played a significant role and made a unique contribution.

My fellow Chinese,
Dear friends,

Over the past 25 years since Macao’s return to the motherland, with the strong support of the central government and the mainland of the country, the MSAR government has led the people from all sectors of society in forging ahead in unity, and achieved an enormous success in advancing the cause of One Country, Two Systems with distinctive Macao features. Macao has undergone an extraordinary transformation, and its international standing has increased significantly.

– Its systems for implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems have continued to improve, securing China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests. The MSAR has established a systematic legal system and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard national security. While the central authorities maintain overall jurisdiction, the region exercises a high degree of law-based autonomy. Macao’s executive, legislative and judicial bodies perform their respective functions and responsibilities. Its executive-led system functions smoothly, and its constitutional order, based on China’s Constitution and the Basic Law of the MSAR, is robust. The principle of patriots administering Macao has been applied across the board. Macao’s democracy has improved, and Macao residents enjoy more extensive rights and freedoms than at any time in history. Macao’s social and political foundations provide a more solid base for applying the One Country, Two Systems policy.

– Macao’s economic and social development has made a historic advance, and its residents enjoy a much stronger sense of gain, fulfillment and security. Macao has worked tirelessly to drive economic growth and development. Its business environment has improved, its gaming industry has advanced in a law-abiding, healthy and orderly fashion, and its economic diversification has progressed. Macao has withstood the challenging tests posed by the SARS epidemic, the global financial crisis, and the Covid-19 pandemic, and maintained the momentum of long-term, steady development. Macao’s 2023 GDP was seven times that of its pre-return period, and its per capita GDP was among the highest in the world. Macao has proactively integrated into China’s overall development and participates actively in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It has made solid gains in building the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and the space for its development has expanded significantly. Macao remains committed to a people-centered approach to governance, and has made significant progress in employment, housing, education, medical care, and social security. It has put in place a public welfare system that covers the entire life cycle and all aspects of everyday life. As a result, Macao has maintained long-term social harmony and stability.

– Macao has continuously expanded external cooperation, and its role as One Center, One Platform, One Base has become more prominent. Macao maintains stable economic and trade ties with over 120 countries and regions, and is a member of over 190 international organizations and institutions. Investors from around the world have come here to do business, contributing to local development and sharing in the fruits of its economic progress. As the only place in the world with both Chinese and Portuguese as its official languages, Macao serves as an important platform for promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Historic Center of Macao, a World Heritage site, brims with attractions and stands as a most favored destination for Chinese and international tourists. Macao is widely known for its excellent and varied cuisines, its cultural diversity, and its grand events. It has garnered international recognition for hallmark occasions such as the Macao Grand Prix and the Macao International Music Festival. The metropolis offers a stage where the world’s cultures and arts can meet and shine together. Its strengths as a base for cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other parts of the world are becoming more prominent. Macao exemplifies the harmonious coexistence and mutual enrichment of different civilizations.

My fellow Chinese,
Dear friends,

Macao’s remarkable achievements since its return to the motherland have proved to the world that One Country, Two Systems has distinctive institutional strengths and strong vitality. It is a good system that sustains the long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao. It is a good system that serves the national drive to build a great country and achieve national rejuvenation. Moreover, it is a good system that contributes to peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between different social systems. So we must remain steadfast in our commitment to this policy. The Chinese values it embodies — peace, inclusiveness, openness and sharing — are relevant to the entire world. These values must be cherished by us all.

Developments in Hong Kong and Macao since their return to the motherland tell us that to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, and to secure the steady and continued success of One Country, Two Systems, we must firmly observe four principles.

First, we must uphold the foundational tenet of One Country and fully deliver the benefits of Two Systems. We must always place China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests above everything else, and we must ensure that the central authorities exercise overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong and Macao. Under no circumstances should we waver from these commitments. At the same time, we must respect the differences between the two systems, fully ensure a high degree of autonomy for the two regions, and continue to fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the policy of One Country, Two Systems, under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong and the people of Macao administer Macao, both with a high degree of autonomy. We must ensure that this policy remains unchanged and is implemented without any vacillation, distortion or alteration.

Second, we must ensure high-standard security in Hong Kong and Macao, and promote high-quality development. Security underpins development, and development in turn ensures security. We must remain firm in both safeguarding security and promoting development. Hong Kong and Macao must cherish the hard-won stability and harmony they enjoy today, focus their energy on growing the economy and pursuing development, and continue to create new growth drivers and build new strengths.

Third, we must leverage the unique strengths of Hong Kong and Macao and reinforce their connectivity with both the mainland and the world. Hong Kong and Macao must adopt a more open and inclusive approach, broaden their international links, and enhance their global influence and appeal. The two regions should fully align the development with the national development strategies, accelerate integration into China’s overall development, and better play their role as bridges in fostering a new development dynamic.

Fourth, we must champion our core values and promote inclusiveness and harmony. We must uphold the core values of loving the country, loving Hong Kong, and loving Macao, and encourage closer exchanges and integration of diverse cultures. We must unite all positive forces to rally the greatest possible support for the cause of One Country, Two Systems both at home and abroad.

My fellow Chinese,
Dear friends,

Today and the days to come will be a pivotal period for building China into a great country and for advancing the cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. We have also entered a new stage of applying the One Country, Two Systems policy. Our mission in implementing this policy in the new era is to deliver better development for Hong Kong and Macao, so that the two regions will contribute even more to China’s growth and national rejuvenation. The new-term government of the MSAR must rally the people of all sectors of society in Macao and lead them in seizing opportunities, pressing ahead with reform, and shouldering responsibilities. It must more effectively leverage the institutional strengths of One Country, Two Systems, apply the policy to the highest standards, and strive for further progress. Here, I wish to express four hopes for Macao.

First, Macao should endeavor to promote appropriate economic diversification. To cultivate internationally competitive new sectors, it should fully leverage its distinctive strengths and resources, be clear about its role, focus on key sectors, improve development planning for relevant industries, and step up policy and funding support. It is important to coordinate the economic development of Macao and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, expand harmonization of rules, and streamline and facilitate the cross-border flow of production factors. Macao should concentrate on key areas, engage in large-scale development of its distinctive sectors, and launch landmark projects and programs that will stimulate other sectors. Let us all be clear that the central authorities’ decision to develop Hengqin is designed to promote Macao’s appropriate economic diversification and make life and work more convenient for its residents. This must be borne in mind, and no sectors and projects that conflict with these goals should be considered. Macao should play a more active role in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, integrating quality resources, and strengthening coordination. It should integrate the development of education, science and technology, and talent, and make the city a magnet for high-caliber professionals, attracting and nurturing expertise from across the world.

Second, Macao should endeavor to boost its governance efficacy as a special administrative region. It should take a proactive and law-based approach to governance. To meet the needs of economic and social development, it should improve institutions, mechanisms, laws and regulations, and drive deeper reform in public administration. It should improve its organizational structure, and reform its approaches and methods of governance. Moreover, it should strengthen coordination at the macro level and build an efficient and effective service-oriented government. These measures will unleash the tremendous vitality and development potential of society. Macao should optimize its public policy consultation mechanisms and improve its decision-making, to ensure this process is informed, democratic and law-based. It should strengthen the coordinated lawmaking mechanism between the government and the Legislative Assembly. It should improve the judicial system, increase judicial efficiency, administer justice fairly, and uphold the rule of law. It should advance reform of its civil service management system, increase the capacity of its governance team, and strengthen the system for overseeing and guaranteeing integrity.

Third, Macao should endeavor to build itself into a platform for higher-standard opening up. With its strategic positioning as One Center, One Platform, One Base, Macao should strengthen mechanisms that can help it to better contribute to China’s opening up. It should proactively align with key national strategies and continue to increase its global competitiveness. It should further increase mutual openness and promote all-round mutually beneficial cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries. It should actively participate in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, make more friends across the world, and provide strong support for China’s high-standard opening up. Macao should continue to improve its business environment, refine its legal systems in areas such as civil and commercial laws, foster and stimulate market dynamism, and attract a greater influx of international resources. It should leverage its unique blend of Chinese and Western cultural heritage to promote international cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It should share more engaging stories about the city and about China, and serve as an important gateway for mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations.

Fourth, Macao should endeavor to maintain social harmony and stability. Macao now enjoys overall stability, but the domestic and international environment is undergoing profound changes. Macao should prepare for inclement weather in times of calm, remain alert and guard against potential risks, and firmly safeguard both national security and the region’s stability. It should ensure that government administration, social self-regulation, and public participation interactively reinforce one another. It should guide and regulate the development of social organizations to consolidate the foundations of grassroots governance. It should remain committed to a people-centered approach, address the most serious, most urgent, and most tangible concerns of its residents, create more and better opportunities for their development, foster a fairer social environment, and strive to fulfill their aspirations for a better life.

Young people represent the hope and future of Macao, and they are a vibrant force in the development of the city and the country. Over the last couple of days, I have met many young people in Macao. Some of them have emerged as exceptional talent in administration, while others have achieved remarkable success in innovation and entrepreneurship. Among them are those who excel in teaching and research roles, and there are still others who are carving out their paths on the international stage. The MSAR government and all sectors of society should show greater care for young people and create a better environment and opportunities that help them grow, excel, and fulfill their aspirations. To the youth of Macao, I hope you will keep the city and the motherland close to your heart, and set lofty goals while remaining grounded in your efforts. I encourage you to commit to the cause of One Country, Two Systems and carry it forward. May your youthful vigor shine in the vast endeavor of building our motherland into a great country and Macao a better place.

My fellow Chinese,
Dear friends,

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China defined a strategy for deeper comprehensive reform and for Chinese modernization. Our efforts to build a great country are opening like a splendid scroll, revealing a future of unparalleled promise. The Chinese nation is on an unstoppable march towards its rejuvenation. I firmly believe that with the full, faithful and resolute application of the One Country, Two Systems policy, steadfast support from our great motherland, and a concerted effort on the part of the MSAR government and all sectors of society, Macao will go on to open up new horizons, create new splendors, and contribute even more to building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)